Why Truman's support for Israel is more relevant than ever

(JNS) — It was perhaps the most important meeting in Jewish history, but it was also simply a discussion between two old friends.

Harry S. Truman was the president of the United States, the most powerful man in the world. Across from him in the Oval Office sat Eddie Jacobson, his former business partner and army buddy. Chaim Weizmann, a Zionist leader, was in Washington and Truman refused to meet him; Jacobson had come to the White House to ask him to reconsider.

The discussion did not begin well. Truman had not been in the best of moods, and Jacobson had been warned by one of the president’s...